(Warning: Long post ahead! :])
Introduction:
This is a remake of the famous Chinese love story in a drama form. An equivalent to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, it is a story of two lovers who dies in the end. However, nobody's plagiarizing anybody. Liang ShanBo & Zhu YingTai or commonly known as LiangZhu or Butterfly Lovers have a different story altogether. The story is fairly simple. Zhu YingTai is a girl during the Eastern Jin Dynasty who disguised as a man to study. On her way, she met ShanBo who then became her sworn brother (kinda like godbrother like that). The drama gives a detailed version of the whole story from how they met to how they fell in love to how they became butterflies. (no kidding)
Characters: (spoilers!)
It is important to introduce the characters, cause since this isn't the movie version of Liang Zhu, they added more stuff, more characters and a thicker plot than the normal version.
PRIMARY Characters:
1. Liang ShanBo 梁山伯The main protagonist of the drama. The only son of the poor Liang family. Father died when he was still young. Though poor, he loves studying. His love for studying kinda make him a nerd bookworm kind, cause though he's very smart and has many bright ideas (which all of them works), he is as dense as a log. He never discover YingTai's disguise until she had to show him that she's a girl. He is also a very kind and righteous person, giving reason to why YingTai fell in love with him. In fact, many girls like him. Dies in the end.
2. Zhu YingTai 祝英台The female protagonist. The only daughter and 9th child of the rich Zhu family. Very close to her 8th brother whose age gap is not as wide as the rest. She is smart, feisty and doesn't care what other thinks. In other words, once she made her decision, she is very stubborn about it. Cares deeply for and loves ShanBo. Willing to die for him...in other words, fiercely devoted to him. Dies too in the end.
3. Ma WenCai 马文才The antagonist. Rich, high-positioned, uses forces to get people to obey him. Classmates of ShanBo and YingTai. At first didn't like YingTai, then fell in love with her once he found out that she's a girl. Uses all sorts of ways to get her love. Hates ShanBo. Thinks YingTai like some prize of a competition.
SECONDARY Characters:
(These characters are equally important because they all play a part in making the story work.)
1. Headmaster 王世玉Headmaster of the school that those three primary characters attend. Looks highly on ShanBo and was very sorry to see his favorite student leave. A very fair person, doesn't judge quickly. Loves his wife very much.
2. Headmaster's wife 师母Looks highly both on ShanBo and YingTai. The fourth person in the school to know that YingTai's a girl. The matchmaker of both ShanBo and YingTai. She also disguised as a man to study once. That's how she met her husband.
3. Wang Lan 王兰The first daughter of Headmaster and his wife. A very skilled doctor in the school. Also pretty enough to attract men but she liked ShanBo. The third person to find out YingTai's a girl. Shifted her attentions to another classmate, Xun JuBo.
4. Wang Hui 王惠The second daughter of Headmaster and his wife. Not as skilled or as pretty as her sister, but very kind. Likes YingTai at first because she thinks 'he' is a person who doesn't judge people on looks. Though devastated to find that she's a girl, Wang Hui in the end treated YingTai like a sister.
5. Xun JuBo 荀巨伯Classmate of the primary characters. Good friends with ShanBo and YingTai. Though he likes Wang Lan and tries to pursue her, he doesn't break ties with ShanBo. In the end, his effort was rewarded. Quite an impulsive person.
6. Zhu YingQi 祝英齐YingTai's 8th brother. Loves his sister dearly till he visits her in school, only to find that she was deeply in love with ShanBo. At first he was against the match cause of the difference in social status. But after getting to know ShanBo, he realised it was a true love match. Very deeply in love with Huang LiangYu, but had his heart broken several times. He remained a bachelor. Very good in fighting. Is able to beat Ma WenCai during a duel in school. Dies.
7. Huang LiangYu 黄良玉YingQi's love interest. She was in love with someone else though (which turn out to be some crappy tertiary jerk who's also a classmate of the primary characters) till it was too late. She married Ma TaiShou because he rescued her from the brothel. Still loves YingQi. Looks like Ma WenCai's mother (that's prob why Ma TaiShou married her).
8. Ma TaiShou 马太守Ma WenCai's father, who's a general. Kind of a womanizer. Believes that YingTai must be married into the Ma family, because Zhu family is rich. Pressures the parents till the match was confirmed. Caused his wife to kill herself. Loves his son but doesn't show it.
9. Zhu YuanWai 祝员外YingTai's father. Loves his only daughter very much, so he spoils her and supports her decisions. Likes ShanBo ever since he heard about him (cause he knows his daughter makes right decisions). A little childish but very lovable. Tries all ways to avoid the match. Was not very happy when the match between Ma WenCai and YingTai was confirmed. Loves his 8th son too, very close with YingQi.
10. Zhu Furen 祝夫人Zhu YuanWai's wife, YingTai and YingQi's mother. Strict, stubborn like her daughter and handles the affairs of the household. At first didn't like ShanBo so she agreed to the match, which was an action she later regrets because she thinks ShanBo is a brilliant fella. Feel that she's to blame for forcing YingTai to marry Ma WenCai, causing ShanBo's death.
11. Fuzi 陈子俊Teacher at the school. Loves the rich, oppress the poor. Fell in love with a guest teacher, but he didn't succeed in winning her hand. Didn't like ShanBo at first, but find him a very strong leaning tower. Dies when trying to protect his love interest. Finally approves ShanBo and begs for forgiveness before death. Happy to see Xie DaoYan shed tears for him.
12. Xie DaoYan 谢道艳The guest teacher which Fuzi fell in love when she came to teach. A woman teacher, so wasn't really respected by the men, except for ShanBo, YingTai and JuBo. The first person to know YingTai's a girl. The first person to reveal YingTai's love for ShanBo to her. Married. Shed tears when her rescuer, Fuzi dies.
13. Su An 苏安The cook at the school. Likes ShanBo very much because ShanBo doesn't treat him like dirt. Fell in love with XinLian and was devastated when he thought she died. Became the leader of robbers in order to get revenge. Finally understood XinLian's intentions and turned away from evil after listening to his mom's and ShanBo's advice. Goes into hiding.
14. Gu XinLian 谷心莲Loves ShanBo very much. She thinks that ShanBo can help her get out from her misery as a person who sell fishes for living. Her mother died trying to protect her father's grave. She was raped by soldiers and 'died' in Su An's arms. She survived when ShanBo was about to bury her. Takes revenge on YingQi and YingTai when she found out that ShanBo loved YingTai only. Uses Su An as a tool to get ShanBo. Was dumped by both of the men.
Detailed Synopsis: (Spoilers ahead!)
The story started with YingTai arranging a mock marriage between herself and YingQi, since LiangYu was already attached to another man. She then meets ShanBo at a temple in her bridal gown and veil.
The whole school life took around 28 episodes. So it's pretty detailed. There are 41 episodes altogether. It shows specifically how YingTai and ShanBo's relationship grows stronger and how Ma WenCai's character was known fully.
YingTai persuaded her mother to let her study in NiShan (the school) because she was able to fool her mom as a man. On the boat trip, she met ShanBo again (who didn't know who she was). She and ShanBo becomes sworn brothers, ShanBo being older, the big brother and vice versa.
After knowing ShanBo and YingTai were suppose to be sleeping on the same bed for the next three years, YingTai devised a plan that is to place books in the middle of the bed so that she and ShanBo will never 'make mistakes'. Because of the same room and the constant quality time, their relationship strengthened. YingTai then finds herself helplessly in love with ShanBo.
Ma WenCai didn't like YingTai because she was very straightforward and insults him. Tried to injure her, but his efforts are all thwarted by ShanBo who was aware of his schemes.
Ma WenCai started to want YingTai as a friend because she doesn't suck up to him like the rest.
He was also suspecting YingTai to be a girl because of her girly ways. She, was however, smart enough to evade his suspicions. The more YingTai and ShanBo are closer to each other, the more Ma WenCai feels extremely jealous.
Wang ZuoRan, a high-ranking official then tried to break the two apart because he hates ShanBo because of ShanBo's connection with XieAn (Xie DaoYan's uncle. It's a pretty complicated story how they got to know each other. Not so important.) and so wants ShanBo out of the school. YingTai, to protect him, lashes out and receives a warning that her family will bear the consequences. ShanBo, to save YingTai and her family, lies to her, and break ties with her. YingTai then runaway from the school, and then falling into the river (it was raining that time). ShanBo realised his mistake and tried to look for her, he also fell into the river. Everyone thought they were dead. But no.
ShanBo was saved by XinLian and her mother, whereas YingTai was saved by Tao YuanMing (a friend of YingTai when she and Ma WenCai was suppose to look for him but was fooled by him until the end). ShanBo then found YingTai at Tao YuanMing's Peach Blossom house, which then the misunderstanding was clarified and they are best friends again.
Then, Ma WenCai had the most ultimate proof of YingTai being a girl (it all has to do with a Goddess Festival). He revealed what he knew to YingTai and pressured her to be his girlfriend or something equivalent. YingTai rejected him, making clear that she loves only ShanBo. Ma WenCai plots for revenge.
YingQi had then arrived at the school to meet his sister. Knowing his sister's affection, he wrote a letter back to the parents in haste, which he later regrets. YingQi had then also coincidentally met LiangYu and tried to persuade her to come back to him, but she refused cause she's a prostitute.
WenCai make Su An steal YingQi's money and frame ShanBo for stealing them. ShanBo was nearly beaten to death (as penalty) when YingTai rushes into the scene and stopped the beatings. She then confessed she stole the money which angers ShanBo. ShanBo then reveals the thief, but saves Su An and send him and his mother away. Su An revealed the mastermind to ShanBo.
WenCai then proceeded to burn the room where ShanBo and YingTai was staying. (YingTai had already moved to her brother's room, so only ShanBo stays in the room.) ShanBo was not in the room, YingTai thought otherwise and barge in to rescue him. ShanBo realising YingTai's in danger, jumps into the fire as well. Ma WenCai, YingQi and JunBo were the ones who rescued both of them. Tightly locked in each other arms, they had sworn to die together. Everyone thought they were dead. But no. It was here that Wang Lan realised that YingTai's a girl, told her mom and then transported YingTai to the mom's room. Everyone thought that YingTai was more seriously injured. WenCai started fasting and praying. YingQi fainted. Wang Lan finally realised that no matter what, she cannot win ShanBo because of ShanBo's obvious affection towards YingTai and vice versa.
YingTai receives a letter from her mother forcing her to come back. She had no choice but to leave. On the way, she and ShanBo had a long farewell trip. YingTai tried to hint that she's a girl, but ShanBo is so dense, she gave up, but imploring him to come and marry her twin sister instead. They had to dress up in bridal wear as they were trapped in the rain and the only dry clothes their host could offer was their son's and daughter-in-law's bridal costume. Even the room still had the wedding decos. It's the first time they slept at close contact.
ShanBo receives an appointment letter to govern a small dying city. He leaves. At first he thought that YingTai wants to be with WenCai after reading a encrypted letter. But then she mentioned his special name, confirming that she is a girl and wants to marry ShanBo. ShanBo's overjoyed. WenCai also leaves because he wants to marry YingTai first. YingTai wouldn't have him. ShanBo's governing city was facing famine, so they stole the army's grain. WenCai was suppose to catch ShanBo and send him to supreme court. ShanBo was saved by his people. YingTai, on hearing the news, rushed towards the city in her man disguise. Wang ZuoRan saves YingTai and ShanBo by faking a hostage attempt. With the problem over, YingTai returns home to face the music.
ShanBo had an assignment to do and he was stationed near YingTai's place. They were overjoyed. But her mom wants nothing to do with ShanBo. However, with his straightforward yet righteous personality, the mom thinks that ShanBo's actually a very fine person.
YingTai realising that her mom still disagree to ShanBo, fasted till fainted. ShanBo made YingTai swear that she will live on strongly, lest he dies. Furen wants ShanBo to voluntarily leave her because of the Zhu's family position. ShanBo left, leaving his part of the matching jade with YingTai.
Then the robbers came. XinLian wants revenge and Su An is delivering it for her. In the process, YingQi thought he was saving XinLian but was mortally wounded instead. XinLian kidnaps both YingTai and her maid, YinXin. ShanBo went to plead with Su An to turn from his ways, threatening to kill him. Su An finally repents but then they realised that YingTai was also there.
XinLian could not get YingTai to leave ShanBo, so she throws YingTai into the river. ShanBo rescues her but thought it was too late. ShanBo then promises never to leave her again.
Zhu YuanWai convinces his wife to accept ShanBo. YingTai tells the good news to her brother. YingQi realised that he could not press on. He died thinking that YingTai was marrying ShanBo. But Ma TaiShou had threaten the Zhu family that their fortunes will be lost if YingTai doesn't marry WenCai. Furen could not disagree.
The blow was too strong on Furen. She seemed to have lost her tenacity. YingTai on seeing this, cries and agreed to marrying WenCai. She tried to reject ShanBo who had come to take her back to his city. She told him the truth, asking him to forget her. ShanBo could not accept the fact that her parents doesn't trust that he could take care of YingTai and the Zhu family. He left, brokenhearted, spitting out blood on his way out.
ShanBo became very ill. After knowing that the date of the wedding was set, he knew his time was up. His servant, SiJiu showed YingTai the bloodied handkerchief that had both her tears and his blood. YingTai wanted to go to ShanBo but her father advised her that this would break his heart even more. YingTai writes 16 words to ShanBo in her blood. The last 8 words being: "If can't live in the same house together, we die in the same grave." SiJiu gave his master the letter and conveying YingTai's message that he will always be the only one in her heart. ShanBo tried to press on because he knows from the letter, that if he dies, YingTai will not want to live as well. But the doctor told him that nothing can be done.
ShanBo dies while thinking of YingTai and flying a butterfly kite. YingTai receives the kite which its string broke when ShanBo died. YingTai made Ma WenCai swear three things: 1. not touch her throughout the whole journey to his house. 2. hang two white lanterns outside her sedan chair. 3. stop by at ShanBo's grave.
Ma WenCai only did two things. He has no intention of fulfilling the third oath. YingTai realising this, cries out to the heavens. Storm comes and guided the boat to ShanBo's grave site. YingTai leaves Ma WenCai, runs to ShanBo's grave, cries and then wrote her name in blood next to his name on the tombstone. YingTai then swore to be his wife. The grave opens, at the same time lightning prevents WenCai and his men from coming forward. ShanBo appears from the grave. YingTai takes his hands and they both disappear into the grave. Peach blossom (their favorite flower) bloomed and a pair of butterflies emerge from the grave.
(spoiler's end.)
Part 2's the review.
EDIT: Added pictures. Makes synopsis look less long.
